Carbonating and dispensing apparatus



D. *HUMPHREY.

CARBONATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED JULY 24, I9I8. 1,373,075.

2 $HEETSSHEE12.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

IN V EN TOR. D fY Z/MFMQEYI A TTORNE YS.

PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID HUMPHREY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CARBONATING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 24," 1918.

T0 (lilac/10m it may concern.

Be it known that I, DAVID HUMPHREY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Carbonating andDispensing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has reference to a beverage carbonating anddispensing apparatus, and the object of the invention is to provide asimple and efficient apparatus for carbonating a beverage during thetime that it is being dispensed or drawn from a tap or faucet, and whichis also adapted to both carbonate and liquefy a frothy product suitablefor serving as an effervescent drink. In other words, the invention isespecially adapted to carbonate either a pla n beverage, or a syrupmixture with plain water as the basis of the drink. It must also beunderstood that the pressure of syrup in a mixture creates a tendency inthe combination to foam and froth when. forced agitation and carbonationtakes place, and in that event more or less special liquidizing of themixture must be resorted to before attempting to draw it off fordrinking purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional'elevation of oneform of my improved apparatus for carbonating and dispensing suchbeverages as ginger beer or ale. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view ofthe upper portion or dome of the carbonating and dispensing vessel andin which a frothy product is also adapted to be liquefied. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional elevation of a modification of the apparatus, andFig. 4 is an enlarged section of the top of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the coupling head and plug and trip mechanism shown inconnection with the float in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of thesaid mechanism reverse to that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectionalelevation of said head lengthwise with the plug in section and the meansconnected with the plug, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of said head.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I show a vessel or container comprising the upper orglass portion or dome 2 and a preferably cast metal base or body 5 andsaid vessel serves as a carbonator for dispensing effervescent bev-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

Serial No. 246,444.

erages from a faucet or tap 3 by way of a draft pipe 4. connected to thesald cast base member 5. The glass dome 2 has an annularoutwardlyflaring flange 6 at its bottom seated upon and sealed within agrooved rubber ring 7 at the top of base 5, and a sectional annularplate 8 and screws 9 clamp said gasket and dome removably in place uponsaid base member.

.The end 10 forms part of a cooling coil ll in receptacle 12, andconnects with the bottom of base 5 by a union nut 13 engaged in saidbase, and a pipe 14: projects upwardly through the center of the vesselfrom said pipe connection 10 to near the top of dome 2 to convey theliquid to a valvecontrolled discharge head 15 in the top of the dome.Said head has a concavo-convex collar 16, and a concavo-convex spreaderv plate 17 is adj ustably secured upon the stem of said head over collar16 and above ori- .fices 19 in said stem or neck to discharge the liquidoutwardly and downwardly in canopy form visibly within the glass dome 2.The liquid passes from pipe 14 through an irregular passage 18 in head15 before issuing at the small orifices or openings 19 between saidcollar and spreader. and a screw threaded stem shaped valve 20 locatedin the tubular stem or extension 21 serves to regulate the amount ofliquid discharged.

A complete shut-off of the liquid through head 15 is effected by aslidable valve 22. Fig. 2. entering the liquid'passage 18, and openingand closing of the said valve is governed by an annular float 23 ridingon the liquid in the vessel and connected by a valve stem or rod 24 withsaid valve 22. The float 23 is hollow and has a tubular center looselysleeved over pipe 14, and when the liquid in the vessel rises above apredetermined level the float is raised and valve 22 moved upward untilthe point thereof closes on valve seat 25. The said float and valve thusgovern the quantity of 1i uid in the vessel at any one time.

he base 5 is provided with a relatively reduced neck 26 at its bottomand in the center of which is an integral tubular eX- tension 26providing a liquid discharge about pipe 14 to pipe 4. and an annularporous member 27 is set into the space between said tubular extensionand the wall of neck 26 adapted to pass gas under pressure but notliquid. The said member 27 may be of a porous wood, such as box wood orother material of equal porosity and such that. a carbonating gas from acharging tank 28 will pass through the same but which also is so denseas to prevent the escape of liquid back from the vessel through thesame. In the construction shown the said block is forced into and fillsthe neck :26 except an annular space 29 at the bottom thereof whichbecomes a pressure space or area for the gas from the tank 28 throughthe pipe 30 which enters the bottom of said neck. The draft or dischargepipe 4 for the liquid communicates with a separate chamber 31 at thebase of tube 26 and which is open to the interior of the vessel so as totake the liquid from about the top, of the block. and since thecarbonating gas works up through said block the liquid drawn oilproceeds from a specially created gas zone where ebullition andeffervescence is immediate and of the greatest value to the outgoingbeverage.

A non-carbonated liquid. or a previously carbonated mixture. may betreated in this Way to provide a live and effervescent drink at the tap.The advantage is also great where there is danger of the liquid contentsof the vessel becoming stale and unpalatable by protracted standing inthe vessel, regardless of any previous treatment of the liquid. Thepressure and quantity of gas admittedis under a more or less sensitivecontrol by a valve 32 at the top or outlet of tank 28, and if the volumeor pressure in the vessel becomes excessive relief is obtained throughthe perforated neck 21 on head 15 and the performed screwcap 33 thereonoutside the dome 2 and which is in seating relation with the top of dome2, see Fig. 2.

A spring pressed valve 35 within cap 33 is adapted to seat on neck 21 tocontrol the escape of gas from vessel A. the nut 36 on thescrew-threaded stem of said valve providing adjustment of spring 38 fordifferent pressures.

somewhat simplified and possibly a preferable form of the invention infound in sheet 2. In this form numerous details in the other form areomitted. As the means for uniting the sections 2 and 5 of the vessel andin which, in the present form I seat one upon the other with a suitablegasket between and depend exclusively upon the central pipe 14 and itsend connections for binding said parts together. The bottom of basemember has a neck 26 and a stub tube 26 therein as before, but pipe 14is engaged in a coupling head 40 and a pipe extension 41 engages in thebottom of said head and has the connection 10 and 13 at its lower endoutside the bottom of base 5.

- jcction 47.

Pipes 4 and 30 also connect with said base and operate as in Fig. 1.though the outer connections thereof are omitted.

The said coupling member or head 10 has a central bore or passagecontrolled by a transversely disposed plug 42, and which is planned tobe automatically opened and closed by the means shown according to theposition or elevation of the float 223. The said means comprise a tripmechanism having a lever H, which is pivoted between its ends at 4.6 ona fixed projection -17 and is connected at one end by rod 4H with thefloat 23 and has a bifurcatml or forked opposite end 49 adapted toengage a pin or projection 51 on a bell crank 52 having its shaftrotatably mounted transversely in the outer end of projection 47 andadapted to actuate trip lever 50 rigid with the opposite end of saidshaft on the other side of protension spring .33 engages one end of triplever 50 and is attachcdlo an an arm 54 from coupling 40 at its otherend and exerts a constantpull on lever 50 as it is tilted back and forthacross the dead center in the opening and closing of valve 42. In thiscase the dead center is the pivot of lever 50 in the crank shaft 52. andthe change of position occurs through the float. That is when the floatdescends. say to position shown in Fig. 3. the valve opened by reversingall the operating parts to the positions in Figs. 5 and 8. whichrepresent the open position of the valve. Then as the 'vessel fills andthe lloat rises it will at last draw the free end of lever -11 upwardproportionately and the forked end thereof will rotate the crank 52 andreverse the position of lever 50. This is ll(.((llll])llSllQ(l locallyas to valve/l2 by a lateral projection 57 on its larger end in positionto be engaged with one of the fingers 58 on lever 54 and lrotating Saidvalve accordingly. The rotation of said valve is limited by an open slot59 thereon and a pin 60.

This modification is also changed somewhat at the top of the apparatuswhere the stem 21 thereof is shown as having escape orifices 19corresponding to the like orifices in Fig. 1 and small vents higher upwithin the vessel and the cap 33 is seated on the vessel and screwedonto the stem 21 and also slightly perforated for venting purposes. Itis not planned in this instance to maintain any gas pressure as such inthe vessel and the actual carbonating gas supply really is through pipe30 and the porous wood filler 527 as in the other form of the apparatus,shown in Fig. 3. During such inflow or thereafter. more or lesscarhonization may be caused to take place bv admitting gas from thecarbonating tank. In fact, the flow of gas may be constant in greater orless degree. as the relief valves for the containing vessel are adaptedto safeguard against excessive pressures. Such inflow of gas causescarbonizing of the liquid in the vessel, and the opening of the faucetor tap causes Withdrawal of liquid from the vessel at the immediate zoneof carbonizing, thereby making it possible to dispense a live andeffervescent drink without excessive foaming or frothing results.Consequentl an apparatus of this kind aifords an e cient and inexpensivemethod of mixing and dispensing effervescent beverages at refreshmentstands, either outdoors or indoors, and in any quantities and for anylength of time, the product being always at its best and thoroughlycarbonated as it is being drawn.

Where the supply for the containing vessel is a syrupy carbonatedproduct delivered under the pressure of carbonating gas, it isdischargedinto the vessel in a frothy condition and is liquefied in the vessel inthe presence of the carbonated, gas. In that event the liquefiedproductis also a carbonated product, which is placed in a state ofebullition and further carbonated upon Withdrawal of the beverage fromthe faucet or tap.

What I claim is:

1. In a carbonating and dispensing apparatus, a liquid container havinga liquidoutlet, a carbonating gas connection for said container opento acircumscribed area around said outlet and a porous plug through whichthe gas enters the container.

2. In a carbonating and dispensing apparatus, a closed vessel having aneck at its bottom and a porous body in said neck adapted to have gasforced through the same, an outlet pipe for said vessel having itsintake on a plane next above said porous body and a gas pressure deviceopen to a space in said neck beneath said body.

3. In a carbonating and dispensing apparatus, a 1i uid bontainer. havinga liquid draw ofl out et at its bottom-and a porous body surroundingsaid outlet adapted to pass gas under pressure, and a source of supplyfor carbonating gas discharging into the container through said porousbody.

4. In a carbonating and dispensing a paratus, a liquid containercomprising a ase and a dome and an intake pipe extending upward into thedome of they container, a valve to control the discharge from said pipeinto said container, a float operatively connected with said valve, anda cap 'at the top of said container adapted to relieve the container ofexcess gas.

5; In a carbonating and dispensing apparatus, a liquid container havingan intake pipe exten ing into the top thereof, a head on said pipehaving dischargeoutlets, a float surrounding said pipe and guidedthereby, a valve to control the passage of fluid through said pipe and alink connecting the float With said valve.

6. In a carbonating and dispensing apparatus, a liquid containercomprisin a base having a gas intake and a liquid ischarge therein and aliquid supply pipe extending centrally through said container into thetop portion thereof and a discharge head at the top of said pipe, afloat sleeved on said pipe, a valve to control the flow of liquidthrough said pipe and a link connecting said float and valve.

7. In a carbonating and dispensin apparatus, a vessel having a liquidinta e cen trally thereof with a discharge head at its top adapted tospray the liquid and a car'- bonating gas supply connection and a draftpipe, a valve for said liquid intake, a float within said vessel and arod connecting said float with said valve.

Signed at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga, and State of Ohio, this13 day of July, 1918.

DAVID HUMPHREY.

